PARK COUNTY, Colo. — At its July 23 meeting, the Park County Board of County Commissioners considered three Land and Water Trust Fund grant applications and took separate votes: it denied Middleway Sanctuary’s acquisition request, approved a timber-frame pavilion at McGraw Park proposed by the Park County Historical Society, and approved funding to complete the Shawnee Water Consumers Association’s return-to-river pipeline project.

Commissioners said Middleway Sanctuary’s proposal to purchase residentially zoned property for a horse rescue and sanctuary did not meet the fund’s voter-approved ballot-question criteria and raised concerns about what would happen to the land if the nonprofit failed or changed use. A commissioner cited zoning mismatch and the general Land and Water Trust Fund preference against purchasing private property for private entities. The motion to deny carried.

The commission approved a timber-frame pavilion proposed for McGraw Park. County staff said the structure would be permitted and inspected, built by a contractor, and made available to the public except when reserved for events. Commissioners said the pavilion will provide shade and shelter for park visitors and travelers and voted to approve the application.

The board also approved the Shawnee Water Consumers Association project to pipeline return flow water, reducing evaporation compared with an open ditch. The application requested $7,500 from the county, with a reported applicant cash match; commissioners discussed a CDOT right-of-way question and accepted staff’s explanation that free-flow into a culvert and re-collection on the downstream side had been considered as a path forward. Commissioners said the pipeline project completes a multiyear system-improvement effort and would conserve water.

Speakers included Liz from county staff who presented the projects and commissioners who moved, seconded and voted on the three grant decisions.